Appalachia and the South have the highest average number of antibiotic prescriptions per person, according to the CDC. / Jupiterimages, Getty Images/Brand X

by USA TODAY

by USA TODAY

NEW YORK (AP) - A government study found that states in Appalachia and the South had the highest average number of antibiotic prescriptions per person. One theory is that the region has more diabetes and people with that condition tend to have more infections.

The study reported the number of antibiotic prescriptions per person for 2010.

Highest rates

West Virginia - 1.237

Kentucky - 1.232

Tennessee - 1.199

Mississippi - 1.159

Alabama - 1.132

Louisiana - 1.129

Arkansas - 1.049

High mid-range rates

Indiana - 0.999

North Dakota - 0.996

Kansas - 0.972

Delaware - 0.948

Nebraska - 0.948

Missouri - 0.946

Texas - 0.933

New Jersey - 0.916

Michigan - 0.903

South Carolina - 0.899

Rhode Island - 0.896

Oklahoma - 0.885

Ohio - 0.883

Georgia - 0.877

Iowa - 0.871

North Carolina - 0.871

Connecticut - 0.863

Mid-range rates

South Dakota - 0.843

New York - 0.836

Illinois - 0.826

Virginia - 0.820

Pennsylvania - 0.804

Utah - 0.804

Massachusetts - 0.802

Maryland - 0.79

Florida - 0.780

Wyoming - 0.774

Arizona - 0.75

Idaho - 0.74

New Mexico - 0.722

Wisconsin - 0.717

Nevada - 0.717

Maine - 0.71

Montana - 0.7

Lower rates

Minnesota - 0.689

Vermont - 0.656

Hawaii - 0.646

New Hampshire - 0.64

Colorado - 0.628

Washington - 0.611

California - 0.6

Oregon - 0.595

Alaska - 0.529

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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